This distillation column is a separation of cyclohexane and n-heptane. The two components are separated over 30 theoretical trays. In general, distillation column models are generally good test cases for nonlinear model reduction and identification. The concentrations at each stage or tray are highly correlated. The dynamics of the distillation process can be described by a relatively few number of underlying dynamic states.
This model was published in:
Hahn, J. and T.F. Edgar, An improved method for nonlinear model reduction using balancing of empirical gramians, Computers and Chemical Engineering, 26, pp. 1379-1397, (2002)
The model is available as a Python script with solution provided by GEKKO. The following figure shows a step change in the reflux ratio from 0.7 to 3.0.
The model is also available in the APMonitor Modeling Language. The figure below displays the system response after a step change in the reflux ratio from 3.0 to 1.5. Each trajectory represents the mole fraction of cyclohexane at each tray. The top reflux material becomes less pure (more n-heptane) due to the increased draw from the top of the column.
The distillation column in this example is built from a number of pre-existing model objects. The model objects used in this example include the distillation stage, feed, flash, mixer, splitter, stream lag, and vessel. These basic models are connected to form the multicomponent distillation tower.